Heather and Hannah met through a dating app in 2020. What initially attracted Hannah to Heather was her energy and authenticity. Heather was attracted to Hannah because they shared similar interests and hobbies. Heather and Hannah started dating in April 2021. Hannah proposed to Heather in December of 2021 by setting up a Winter Wonderland in the living room full of Christmas Trees, candles, white roses, and a large light-up “Marry Me” sign. We continued the winter theme and were married in January 2023. Building a family together has always been part of our vision — a home filled with laughter, stability, and unconditional love. After three rounds of IUIs that were emotionally, physically, and financially exhausting, we realized that our dream of expanding our family isn’t defined by biology — love is at the heart of it.
Adoption feels like the path we were meant to take. We want to grow our family with intention, compassion, and purpose, providing a home where a child feels safe, seen, and loved and where their story matters.
For our family, adoption has already been life-changing. Hannah adopted Lainey through the Department of Child Services when she was 15 months old, an experience that shaped her heart and taught the true meaning of family. For Heather, becoming a step-parent meant intentionally choosing Lainey, showing up with love, patience, and unwavering commitment. Together, we are building a family grounded in choice, presence, and unconditional love.
Now, as a same-sex couple beginning our adoption journey together, we carry forward the lessons: the importance of resilience, empathy, and unconditional love. That experience continues to guide our hearts as we hope to welcome another child into our family. We can’t wait to share our weekly movie night tradition with a child — picking a movie together, making popcorn, and laughing as a family. It will be a comforting, joyful ritual where they always feel loved and included.
Hannah is the most selfless person I’ve ever been around. One of her best qualities is that she is constantly checking on the people around her, making sure everything is going smoothly. She makes the extra effort to do little acts of service for the ones that she loves. It can be something as small as filling up my water without me asking if she notices it’s getting low, or something as big as decorating the kitchen with birthday decorations for her family to wake up to in the morning.
Hannah is such an involved parent and aunt. She is our niece’s favorite person because she always plays with her and makes sure she has a blast every time she comes over. Hannah is also extremely hands on when it comes to our time with Lainey. She is always willing to put together a puzzle, work on legos, play board games, or just have a good movie and slushie night! You’d be hard-pressed to be bored spending time with Hannah!
Heather is my absolute best friend and love of my life. Meeting her has always felt like fate. She came into my life at the perfect time and felt like a reward for enduring previous heartache. All animals and children are drawn to Heather. She is the perfect introverted extrovert. I deeply appreciate how Heather shows up for me every day. Heather is calm, level-headed, and even-tempered, qualities that shine through in her work as a teacher and coach and naturally carry into her role as a parent. In the classroom and on the field, she approaches challenges with patience and a practical, logical mindset — helping children feel safe, supported, and understood while encouraging them to grow. That same steady presence allows her to create a nurturing home where children know what to expect and feel secure. Heather is loyal, dependable, and deeply compassionate, always showing up, listening carefully, and advocating for the needs of those in her care. Her ambition and intelligence drive her to be intentional in her parenting, continually learning and adapting to best support each child. At the same time, she brings joy and connection through her fun-loving, playful, and quick-witted spirit, filling everyday moments with laughter, encouragement, and warmth. These qualities make Heather a parent who balances structure with play, guidance with grace, and love with consistency.
Lainey has a bubbly, social, and tender-hearted personality. She is smart, loving, and always eager to help. Lainey loves all things “girly” — make-up, hair products, skin care, and nails. Her favorite season is winter, and she loves ice skating, making snowmen, going sledding, always followed by hot chocolate, of course. Lainey also loves music and choreographing her own dances in her bedroom. Lainey is very excited about having a sibling and is especially happy that, like her, they will be adopted.
Sammy (our black Labrador) and Cash (our golden retriever) are full of love, energy, and joy. Both are gentle, playful, and endlessly patient, and share a special bond with Lainey. They are always ready for games, cuddles, and snacks. One of our favorite traditions is going on walks together as a family, with Sammy and Cash happily leading the way, tails wagging. We’re excited to include a new baby in these moments too, knowing our dogs will be loving, protective, and sweet companions, ready to share in all the fun, snuggles, and family memories from day one.
We are blessed to have a wonderful support system of family and friends. Both our immediate families live locally, and Heather’s extended family lives in Michigan — we visit and stay in touch regularly.
Hannah is very close with her two sisters, so we enjoy spending time with them and our nieces through play dates, dinners, and outings. Heather is also really close to her mom, who lives nearby. Lainey is lucky to have two wonderful and active grandmothers. One is hands-on, loves baking and crafting with her, while the other enjoys taking Lainey to movies, the beach, and on fun adventures.
Our neighborhood is safe, welcoming, and very kid-friendly. There are children of all ages, and many enjoy riding bikes or playing outside. Our neighbors are wonderful, and the community is full of people walking their dogs and enjoying time outdoors. We live near local schools and have plenty of parks. Our hometown has a small-town, close-knit feel, but offers lots to do, including festivals downtown and in the parks throughout the year. We also have a large, fenced-in backyard — perfect for play, pets, and spending time outdoors safely. We’re close to two zoos, waterparks, pools, parks, sporting events, and children’s museums as well — plenty of fun and educational activities for kids.
Traditions are very important to our family. We love to decorate all year long for each season. These traditions make every season feel fun and full of love.
Friday Night Movies: Every Friday, we have a Family Movie Night with popcorn, slushies, and s’mores. We recently finished all the Marvel movies in order. We can’t wait to include a new baby, cuddling together on the couch, sharing snacks, and letting Lainey help brainstorm which movies to watch so the baby feels part of the fun from the very beginning.
Fourth of July: We celebrate the holiday with family, hosting a large cookout, water activities for the kids, sparklers, and enjoying fireworks from our backyard, the city fireworks are even visible from here. We look forward to including a new baby in the fun, whether snuggled in a cozy blanket during the fireworks or splashing in the water with Lainey and their cousins.
Halloween: Halloween is a beloved tradition in our family and a time when togetherness truly shines. Each year, we host an annual Halloween party for our family with pumpkin painting, a caramel apple bar, and an outdoor movie night. Planning family costumes, often homemade, is one of our favorite traditions. Lainey is especially excited to welcome a new sibling and already talks about how much fun it will be to include the baby in our costumes, carefully brainstorming themes so the baby feels loved, included, and part of our family from the very beginning.
Christmas: Each year, we host a Baking Day with Hannah’s sisters and nieces, filling our home with laughter, holiday music, and the sweet smells of Christmas treats for Santa. We can’t wait to teach another child our family sugar cookie recipe and help them decorate cookies for Santa’s. After baking, we go see Christmas lights together, and on Christmas Eve, we enjoy a gingerbread house competition while watching our favorite Christmas movies. These traditions are some of our most cherished moments, and we look forward to sharing them as we welcome another child into our family.
Our family values are rooted in love, respect, and authenticity. We strive to create a home where a child feels safe to express themselves, explore their interests, and know they belong. We believe in celebrating individuality while providing guidance, stability, and support every step of the way.
Through our experience adopting Lainey, we have learned the profound importance of honoring a child’s story — every child comes to their family with a unique path, and it is our job to listen, validate, and embrace that journey. Parenting is not just about teaching or protecting; it is about learning alongside our children, growing together, and showing them that love is steady, unwavering, and abundant.
We hope to provide a home where a child feels cherished, empowered, and free to be themselves — a home where laughter, learning, curiosity, and love are at the heart of every day.
As a family, we highly value quality time together, it’s truly our love language. Whether it’s Friday Movie Nights, holiday traditions, weekend adventures, or simple moments at home, we make it a priority to be present with one another and create lasting memories. Our schedules support this commitment: Heather, as a teacher and coach, has summers and holiday breaks off, allowing her to be fully present for everyday activities and special family moments. Hannah also has the flexibility to prioritize family, with 12 weeks of parental leave to focus on bonding with the baby and helping them feel secure and loved from the very start. These routines and intentional moments of togetherness form the foundation of our family, teaching Lainey — and soon the new baby — that love is shown through attention, presence, and shared experiences.
Lainey was adopted into our family at a young age. Her birth family struggled with substance use, and it was determined that regular contact would not be safe or in her best interest. While she does not have ongoing contact with her birth family, we honor her story and her beginnings, and we celebrate the love and security she has found in our home. This experience has shaped how we approach adoption with care, respect, and sensitivity, always putting the child’s safety, well-being, and emotional needs first. To us, openness in adoption means keeping a caring connection in whatever way feels right for the birth mother. We want her to take the lead in deciding how much contact or updates she’s comfortable with. Our hope is to create a relationship built on trust, respect, and kindness, always centered on love for the child, and honoring her role in their life.
We are grateful for your time in reading about our family. We promise to provide a home full of love, laughter, and support, where a child’s story is honored and their heart is always safe.
